I am a long time satisfied user of the lee PPM, was wondering if anyone has used the cast steel version. It's been about for awhile now, and would like to know if any improvement over the original. I can assume its more stable and strong so I think it would make dropping an easy task the more solid it is. Just curious....thanks
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anyone tried the CAST ppm?
- Thread starter skizzums
- Start date
Marco Califo
New member
No I have not tried it, but here is a link to Lee's:
http://leeprecision.com/stand-mounted-powder-measures/
I like my plastic PPM. In fact, I bought another.
Although I like the idea of the new cast one, I do not plan to get one, at least not soon, since I own an old Orange Lyman #55. I just noticed the #55 is now cheaper than the new Lee.
The advantage of the Lee is that they use actual calibrated volume measurements, and are thus repeatable without a lot of trial and error. The Lyman has three different sliders which can all be adjusted at the same time, but you don't know the true actual volume. The Lyman adjustment sliders let you adapt cavity shape to better suit individual powders, where the Lee adjusts one cylinder length only.
http://leeprecision.com/stand-mounted-powder-measures/
I like my plastic PPM. In fact, I bought another.
Although I like the idea of the new cast one, I do not plan to get one, at least not soon, since I own an old Orange Lyman #55. I just noticed the #55 is now cheaper than the new Lee.
The advantage of the Lee is that they use actual calibrated volume measurements, and are thus repeatable without a lot of trial and error. The Lyman has three different sliders which can all be adjusted at the same time, but you don't know the true actual volume. The Lyman adjustment sliders let you adapt cavity shape to better suit individual powders, where the Lee adjusts one cylinder length only.
A pause for the COZ
New member
Have not yet. Since I have more than a few powder measures I haven't felt the need as yet. Price is too high for a whim purchase, and thats what it would be for me.
But I have talked to a couple guys who do have it. They like it allot.
Stated that they perform very accurately across a wide range of powders,and the swappable quick change drums will be very useful when they come out.
Now if they came out with a package deal with the measure and a couple two three drums. I might come off the sni.
http://www.titanreloading.com/powder-handling-equipment/lee-classic-powder-measure
This is the one I am waiting for. I am ordering as soon as I see it.
I hate setting up the case activated measure on my LNL AP.
http://www.titanreloading.com/powder-handling-equipment/lee-autodrum-powder-measure
But I have talked to a couple guys who do have it. They like it allot.
Stated that they perform very accurately across a wide range of powders,and the swappable quick change drums will be very useful when they come out.
Now if they came out with a package deal with the measure and a couple two three drums. I might come off the sni.
http://www.titanreloading.com/powder-handling-equipment/lee-classic-powder-measure
This is the one I am waiting for. I am ordering as soon as I see it.
I hate setting up the case activated measure on my LNL AP.
http://www.titanreloading.com/powder-handling-equipment/lee-autodrum-powder-measure
Here are some measurements I've recorded. Please note "g" represent grains and not grams.
Before starting this evaluation of the Lee Classic Powder Measure (CPM) I took this new PM totally apart and thoroughly washed, dried (including the hopper) and pre-lubed it with graphite. The Hopper was rubbed down with a dryer sheet. Then a full hopper full of Bullseye run thru it before evaluating. The following is a part of my evaluation thus far.
First up was Bullseye. Now admittedly Bullseye is an excellent metering powder. There was no tapping or snapping the measure or handle just a full and complete stroke from top to bottom giving it a couple of seconds on the fill side. The first 10 drops of Bullseye set at 4.1g were all separated by a mere .01g. I did no further testing of Bullseye.
The following results are grouped by the specific powder for 10 individual weights and then by a 10 consecutive dispensing to check the average dispensing weight.
Unique Data:
Measure adjusted for 3.5g of Unique with approximately 2 second fill time. Individual weights as listed for each dispensing.
1- 3.5g
2- 3.6g
3- 3.6g
4- 3.6g
5- 3.6g
6- 3.5g
7- 3.6g
8- 3.6g
9- 3.6g
10-3.5g
Then 10 drops of 3.5g of Unique were performed with approximately 2 second fill times and measure in bulk for a total of 36.8g or 3.68g average.
Measure set for 10g of Unique. Individual weights as listed for each dispensing.
1- 10g
2- 10.1g
3- 10g
4- 10.1g
5- 10.1g
6- 10.1g
7- 10.1g
8- 10g
9- 10g
10- 10g
Then 10 drops of the 10g of Unique were performed with approximately 2 second fill times and measure in bulk for a total of 100.5g or 10.05 average.
2400 Data:
Measure adjusted for 6.1g of 2400 with approximately 2 second fill time. Individual weights as listed for each dispensing.
1- 6.1g
2- 6.1g
3- 6.2g
4- 6.1g
5- 6.1g
6- 6.2g
7- 6.1g
8- 6.1g
9- 6.1g
10-6.2g
Then 10 drops of the 6.1g of 2400 were performed with approximately 2 second fill times and measure in bulk for a total of 62.2g for a 6.22g average.
Measure adjusted for 13g of 2400 with approximately 2 second fill time. Individual weights as listed for each dispensing.
1- 13g
2- 12.9g
3- 12.9g
4- 12.9g
5- 12.8g
6- 12.8g
7- 12.8g
8- 12.9g
9- 12.9g
10- 12.8g
Then 10 drops of the 13g of 2400 were performed with approximately 2 second fill times and measure in bulk for a total of 129.6g for a 12.96g average.
H4895 Data:
Measure adjusted for 44.8g of H4895 with approximately 2 second fill time. Individual weights as listed for each dispensing.
1- 44.8g
2- 44.8g
3- 44.9g
4- 44.9g
5- 45.0g
6- 44.8g
7- 45.1g
8- 45.2g
9- 45.1g
10- 44.9g
Then 10 drops of the 44.8g of H4895 were performed with approximately 2 second fill times and measure in bulk for a total of 451.3g or a 45.13g average.
Before starting this evaluation of the Lee Classic Powder Measure (CPM) I took this new PM totally apart and thoroughly washed, dried (including the hopper) and pre-lubed it with graphite. The Hopper was rubbed down with a dryer sheet. Then a full hopper full of Bullseye run thru it before evaluating. The following is a part of my evaluation thus far.
First up was Bullseye. Now admittedly Bullseye is an excellent metering powder. There was no tapping or snapping the measure or handle just a full and complete stroke from top to bottom giving it a couple of seconds on the fill side. The first 10 drops of Bullseye set at 4.1g were all separated by a mere .01g. I did no further testing of Bullseye.
The following results are grouped by the specific powder for 10 individual weights and then by a 10 consecutive dispensing to check the average dispensing weight.
Unique Data:
Measure adjusted for 3.5g of Unique with approximately 2 second fill time. Individual weights as listed for each dispensing.
1- 3.5g
2- 3.6g
3- 3.6g
4- 3.6g
5- 3.6g
6- 3.5g
7- 3.6g
8- 3.6g
9- 3.6g
10-3.5g
Then 10 drops of 3.5g of Unique were performed with approximately 2 second fill times and measure in bulk for a total of 36.8g or 3.68g average.
Measure set for 10g of Unique. Individual weights as listed for each dispensing.
1- 10g
2- 10.1g
3- 10g
4- 10.1g
5- 10.1g
6- 10.1g
7- 10.1g
8- 10g
9- 10g
10- 10g
Then 10 drops of the 10g of Unique were performed with approximately 2 second fill times and measure in bulk for a total of 100.5g or 10.05 average.
2400 Data:
Measure adjusted for 6.1g of 2400 with approximately 2 second fill time. Individual weights as listed for each dispensing.
1- 6.1g
2- 6.1g
3- 6.2g
4- 6.1g
5- 6.1g
6- 6.2g
7- 6.1g
8- 6.1g
9- 6.1g
10-6.2g
Then 10 drops of the 6.1g of 2400 were performed with approximately 2 second fill times and measure in bulk for a total of 62.2g for a 6.22g average.
Measure adjusted for 13g of 2400 with approximately 2 second fill time. Individual weights as listed for each dispensing.
1- 13g
2- 12.9g
3- 12.9g
4- 12.9g
5- 12.8g
6- 12.8g
7- 12.8g
8- 12.9g
9- 12.9g
10- 12.8g
Then 10 drops of the 13g of 2400 were performed with approximately 2 second fill times and measure in bulk for a total of 129.6g for a 12.96g average.
H4895 Data:
Measure adjusted for 44.8g of H4895 with approximately 2 second fill time. Individual weights as listed for each dispensing.
1- 44.8g
2- 44.8g
3- 44.9g
4- 44.9g
5- 45.0g
6- 44.8g
7- 45.1g
8- 45.2g
9- 45.1g
10- 44.9g
Then 10 drops of the 44.8g of H4895 were performed with approximately 2 second fill times and measure in bulk for a total of 451.3g or a 45.13g average.
Pond James Pond
New member
@daboone
Great comparison!!
I don't have access to a great wealth of powders, so could you tell me which of your listed test powders are extruded sticklike VihtaVuori?
I load VV and it has historically been troublesome out of such volumetric measures. The auto-disk was the biggest offender and the PPM was a far better performance in accuracy, but never to the point that I could twist and charge. I've had to check the weight with a scale.
Great comparison!!
I don't have access to a great wealth of powders, so could you tell me which of your listed test powders are extruded sticklike VihtaVuori?
I load VV and it has historically been troublesome out of such volumetric measures. The auto-disk was the biggest offender and the PPM was a far better performance in accuracy, but never to the point that I could twist and charge. I've had to check the weight with a scale.
Awesome write up. Def seems pretty consistent, although with flake powders, I would say my PPM is more consistent.
I am more interested in the feel, you know how the lightweight and flimsy plastic of the ppm can some times make pulling a charge slightly difficult, I would love it to be smoother with the cast. But I assume it still has the same plastic beveled wheel as the old one, so it may just be the same.
After looking again, the wheel looks metal, I gotsta have it.
I am more interested in the feel, you know how the lightweight and flimsy plastic of the ppm can some times make pulling a charge slightly difficult, I would love it to be smoother with the cast. But I assume it still has the same plastic beveled wheel as the old one, so it may just be the same.
After looking again, the wheel looks metal, I gotsta have it.
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